​S.T.A.R. Method is a technique employed by employers to evaluate your past experience and behavior in order to predict your future behavior in a particular situation. Answering behavioral questions is not an easy task, but proper preparation will assist you in answering them successfully. Utilizing the S.T.A.R. Method will help you construct an organized, specific, thoughtful, and concise answer.

S = Situation [Think of a situation in which you were involved that had a positive outcome.]T = Task [Describe the tasks involved in the situation.]A = Action [Specify what actions you took in the situation to complete the tasks and achieve your results.]R = Results [What results followed due to your actions?]

Use the following guidelines to enable this effective strategy:

Analyze the position for which you are being applying and interviewed and determine what skills are required.

Evaluate and reflect upon your background to identify your skills and experiences related to the position. Think about your experiences and skills gained in class, internships, leadership positions, and activities and relate them to the skill sets required by the position for which you are interviewing.

Identify three to five top selling points – attributes that set you apart from other candidates – and be sure to take the opportunity to point them out during the interview using “S.T.A.R. Stories.”

Create brief “S.T.A.R. Stories” that demonstrates your teamwork abilities, initiative, planning, leadership, commitment, and problem-solving skills. Try to be as relevant as possible to the position. Be prepared to provide examples of occasions when results were different than expected.

Practice your stories, but be careful not to memorize as you may forget nuances of your story when in a pressure situation. Reviewing them before your interview will give you confidence in knowing you are prepared and will eliminate fumbling for words and awkward silences in the interview.

Be specific in your stories. Giving generalizations will not help the employer understand and evaluate your behavior and skills. Employers want to know what you did rather than what you would do in a given situation.

Quantify wherever possible. It is evidence of your achievements, accomplishments, and efforts.

Be honest! Omitting or embellishing parts of your story could lead to disaster if the interviewer discovers that the foundation of your story is weak.

In using this strategy, you will be able to showcase your accomplishments, skills, and knowledge and show the employer what a S.T.A.R. you are!